Management of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Current Perspectives

Worldwide over 300,000 deaths due to liver cancer and cirrhosis occurred in 2013 due to hepatitis C. In the United States about 2% of population has chronic hepatitis C. In 2014 it was the single greatest cause of death in the United States. The number of deaths due to hepatitis C has overtaken HIV/AIDS as a cause of death in USA. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is also prevalent in Africa, Central and East Asia, with highest rates in Egypt. Transmission of HCV in the developed world is intravenous drug use, while in the developing countries the main method of transmission is blood transfusion and unsafe procedures. Once the infecting virions reaches the susceptible cells that are permissive replication.HCV RNA can be detected in blood(including serum and plasma),tears, seminal fluid, ascetic fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid. HCV infection leads to hepatic inflammation, steatosis, cirrhosis, and greater risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical manifestations include acute infection, chronic infection, non-hepatic complications, and occult infection.Diagnosis including HCV antibody enzyme immunoassay (ELISA), recombinant,andquantitative HCV RNA PCR.Blood tests alleviate the need for liver biopsy.Sofosbuvir with ribavirin and interferon is frequently used drugs. Virus usually (80-90% of cases) recurs in liver transplant patients. Alternative therapies e.g. Milkthistle, ginseng and colloidal gold have no effect on the virus at all. Successful treatment decreases the future risk of hepatocellular carcinoma by 75%.Prevetion include screening of blood donors and adhering to universal precautions within the healthcare system.